Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis progression: Iran-ALS clinical registry, a multicentre study

This study was designed to evaluate ALS progression among different subgroups of Iranian patients. Three hundred and fifty-eight patients from centres around the country were registered and their progression rate was evaluated using several scores including Manual Muscle Test scoring (MMT) and the revised ALS Functional Rating Scale (ALSFRS-R). Progression rate was analysed separately in subgroups regarding gender, onset site, stage of disease and riluzole consumption. A significant difference in MMT deterioration rate (p = 0.01) was noted between those who used riluzole and those who did not. No significant difference was observed in progression rates between male/female and bulbar-onset/limb-onset groups using riluzole. In conclusion, riluzole has a significant effect on muscle force deterioration rate but not functional scale. Progression rate was not influenced by site of onset or gender.